Fogarty could also be expected to enjoy a more collegial relationship with the legislature and other Democratic interests. While this is not without some inherent risk, Fogarty has the ability to pursue a middle ground that broadly serves Rhode Island’s interests.

The Phoenix endorses Charles Fogarty for governor.

Langevin in the second congressional district

The Phoenix endorses US Representative JAMES R. LANGEVIN.

Independent challenger Rod Driver of Richmond is a thoughtful candidate whose enthusiasm has stimulated useful discussion about the war in Iraq, stem cell research, and other issues.

We strongly take issue with the opposition of the incumbent to abortion-rights. For the most part, though, we believe Representative Langevin has done a good job in Congress, and that he deserves reelection.

Kennedy in the first congressional district
US Representative PATRICK J. KENNEDY, despite his personal difficulties — and with the notable exception of his vote in favor of the war in Iraq — has been a mostly diligent supporter of Rhode Island’s interests.

Jonathan Scott, a first-time candidate representing the Republican Party, deserves plaudits for throwing his hat in the ring (independent Ken Capalbo, who seems largely motivated by his criticism of Israel, is also running). Yet the lack of a more formidable candidate, as well as no entry in the Second Congressional District, reflects the ongoing and underlying weakness of the Rhode Island Republican Party.

The Phoenix endorses Patrick J. Kennedy.

Roberts for lieutenant governor
State Senator ELIZABETH ROBERTS of Cranston has the intelligence, enthusiasm, and expertise to do a very strong job as lieutenant governor. The Phoenix offers her our enthusiastic endorsement.

Republican candidate Reginald Centracchio, best known as the longtime former commander of the Rhode Island National Guard, appears capable of doing a good job in the state’s second-ranking position. Roberts, however, is the better-qualified candidate.

Robert J. Healey Jr., best known for his work with the Cool Moose Party, is again running, albeit very quietly, with a single-issue platform of eliminating the lieutenant governor’s office.

As we noted in endorsing Roberts in the September primary, she has engaged with some of the state’s most important issues while serving as a state senator since 1996. She would likely learn quickly on the job as lieutenant governor, and has the ability to compile a strong record of accomplishment. Her election would also represent progress in a state where a woman has never been elected lieutenant governor.

Lynch for attorney general
The Rhode Island attorney general’s office has a well-deserved reputation as a hotbed of controversy. There’s no better recent example of this than the public upset greeting the resolution of the criminal charges stemming from the February 2003 Station nightclub disaster in West Warwick.

Republican Bill Harsch, as part of a broader critique of AG PATRICK LYNCH, has tried to leverage dissatisfaction with this situation to vault into the attorney general’s office.

Lynch sometimes plays too much to type as a political insider — failing to acknowledge, for example, even a perceptual problem in his receipt of campaign contributions from opponents in the historic lead paint case being settled by his office. He nevertheless remains a better choice to serve as AG, because of his experience and a more even temperament, than his GOP challenger.

THE OBAMA IMPERATIVE | October 31, 2012 Two things stand between almost certain economic and social catastrophe: the prospect of the Democrats maintaining — or expanding — their majority in the Senate, and the reelection of President Barack Obama.

TURKEY TIME | November 22, 2011 It's time for the Phoenix 's third annual turkeys issue, wherein we call out Rhode Islanders for acts most fowl.

CHAFEE’S NUMBER | July 27, 2011 This week, we continue with a running feature, the Gubernatorial Scorecard. Every so often, we'll rate Lincoln Chafee from 1 to 10 on both the politics and substance of his most recent maneuverings.